How do Samsung NX*** cameras compare today ?

Once, with the NX-300m, NX-500 and the NX-1 Samsung had some capable cameras in its product line.

How do the image results of those cameras stand up against the cameras of other companies or today´s smartphones - better or worse ?

Now - if Samsung would leave out the "social media" toys in the camera firmware (except the WiFi connectivity), concentrate on a more versatile RAW format and speed of the image processor, and avoid the use of cheap plastic in the camera housing, could the result be a strong, modern camera for semi-pro and family use ?

The lenses with the "Schneider Kreuznach" label were very usable.

Instead of investing more and more $ in smartphone cameras and sensors, which are good enough for what they are used today, just let the camera section of the company come back to life again and produce some high quality cameras like the NX-300m and the NX-500 with a good EVF and a more pro-oriented NX-1 (not as heavy as the Nikon Z9, but in this direction).

In this respect - what are your ideas ?

Rudi.

I agree with most of what you say here, apart from I've never felt there is any issue with the build quality of the NX cameras.

Although I would love for Samsung to make a comeback into the camera market, the realist in me thinks that this has close to zero chance of happening.

In recent times I've been tempted away from the NX line and in fact I have a Sony Zv-1 that I bought last year and is fantastic. But at the moment I'm still using most of my NX kit and unless I somehow come into a lot of money, I won't be moving elsewhere for the foreseeable.

I've just "updated" my NX5 to an NX11!

These 14Mpixel cameras serve me perfectly well for what I want them for, primarily an economical "digital platform" for my older Russian rangefinder lenses.

I see no opportunity for Samsung to return to the ever-shrinking digital camera market. The three or four "main players" have things fairly sewn up between them, there's just no real market for yet another lens system … which was possibly one cause of the demise of the NX system in the first place!

The "Schneider Kreuznach" lenses were relabelled Pentax lenses for use on the GX range of DSLRs, which were (coincidently?) also relabelled Pentax designs, albeit with Samsung firmware.

When Samsung introduced the NX range (and discontinued the GX cameras) they made a PK-NX adaptor available so existing GX customers had an "upgrade path" for their lenses. The problem with that concept was that, as with the clip-on GPS module for the NX cameras, it was so horrendously expensive that nobody bought one … a whole bunch of pre-existing customers immediately alienated! Indeed, any existing GX users had an obvious upgrade path with a new Pentax DSLR!

The bottom line is that the NX cameras are still as good as they ever were, but the world has moved on around them. My latest Pentax 26Mpixel DSLR has a maximum ISO of 1,600,000 … yes, that's over a million … and I can use (virtually) every K-mount lens made since 1975 without any adaptor and in automatic exposure mode! The advanced capabilities of the latest Canon and Nikon are mind boggling, I've no experience of other manufacturers but no doubt they are every bit as good (or better), else they'd not still be in production!

I have a 42mp Sony full frame camera with 4 lenses that never gets any use. Why? Because I prefer my NX1 with 16-50 S and 50-150 S combo. The 28mp is enough for what I shoot, the 2 lenses cover a great range, and the camera just feels better in my hands. Every time I feel I should be using the Sony more I give it a try but it's soon back to my NX1. Sure, I wish there had been an Nx2 and 3 and 4 but the NX1 and lenses are so good I'm still pleased to be shooting these many years past their death.

I think you will be very pleasantly surprised with the 45mm.

The 20mm is starting to grow on me. It might not be the fastest, the af may not be the best, and it doesn't have OIS. But...there's just something pleasing about the output. The amount of background blur you get wide open is just about right, and the focal length is perfect for every day use; you could argue that the 16mm is a bit too wide and the 30mm is a bit too narrow (both great in their own right though)

As stated elsewhere on this and other threads, recent cameras have surpassed the NX series somewhat. But and I think is a big but, Samsung were so innovative and brave initially that they still hold their own in the 'stills' department with a couple of caveats. Autofocus & Tracking and high ISO performance. If there two are not very important to you then yes, most emphatically they're still a great system. Their lenses were/are particularly good value.

I would also add, given the recent pricing trend of all manufacturers going up-market, then the NX series represent remarkable value for money.

Definitely good value for money. There is the odd bargain available on eBay but the NX1/NX500 and most of the lenses are holding their value surprisingly well. I would estimate there are still a lot of die hard nx users (myself included) that are holding onto their kit.

NX1 compares fairly well.. surprisingly good camera for 2014. It is very sad that Samsung ditched this system. It will be enough to boost memory and processor, and that camera would still be enough today. 28mpix, hi-iso quite good..  just compare NX to recently released Pentax K3III. FPS nowhere near, video not there, fixed screen.. and €2000..

Well, for an amateur NX500 is good enough for anything (seldom use RX1) and NX 30 20 10 210 1000 useful. And 45mm, often used on walks, and 85mm. Prices are going down and down, if something fails. But no major faults so far!

Thought about Sony A7 III, see secondhand price falling. But how many lenses at what cost... Guess it will be NX for a long time yet.

They doing great exept autofocus!

The latest Samsungs still are quite capable but the system has been  dead for years now. . If you own it already or have a chance to buy into it really cheap, then it could be worth while  . But to invest much money into a dead system is a fools folly.

Siralgovia wrote:

Veducci wrote:

The latest Samsungs still are quite capable but the system has been dead for years now. . If you own it already or have a chance to buy into it really cheap, then it could be worth while . But to invest much money into a dead system is a fools folly.

On the other hand, the fact that it is a dead system will likely keep the resale prices up. I personally haven't seen prices go down gradually. What I have noticed (and I keep on looking at NX auctions on Ebay both in the US and Germany) is that prices fluctuate. There'll be times where you won't see an NX500 listed under 400 Euro or listed at all and then boom, suddenly there are several for sale. I bought mine, mint as new for €299 with the 16-50 included in November. Right afterwards I saw another one for €329.

I look at my NX gear as collector items. I already had several NX cameras and lenses and sold them all (except for my 2 NX Minis) to move on to Fuji and MFT. After shooting a year now with the latter, I will say that for me (my personal taste) my Fuji cameras and lenses do not match the rendering I get with my NX system. And I'm mostly a jpeg a shooter.

I bought my new NX500 in November alongside a Fuji Xf10. I got an amazing deal on a mint Xf10 that I couldn't resist. I'm a big Ricoh fan but could not afford (or didn't want to spend that much money) on a Ricoh GR III, especially considering all the possible issues that come along with that camera. I was looking for a pocket sized APSC camera and when the Fuji came along I jumped on it. Don't get me wrong, I love the Xf10 and I will keep it. It is super small and has very good IQ. But to me, it doesn't match my NX500 (or Nx3000 for that matter) with the 20mm attached to it. It's good, but not as good as the NX. There is something special in the NX rendering and pretty much every shot I take comes out with that Wow factor in one way or another.

I will keep my Panasonic G9 for its image stabilization and zoom capabilities with the 14-140. Weather resistance, viewfinder etc. Love it. But when it comes to ultimate jpeg quality (of the systems I have tried so far that is), my NX gear continuesly comes out at the top for me.

Note: As much as I'd love to try some of the S lenses, they would be too big of an investment for me. The prices are too high to risk having them break down. The IQ of the pancakes and kit lens is already outstanding and should one of those break, the loss isn't too big and, with a little patience, they can easily be replaced.

I too look at my gear as collector items. Not with a view to make a profit, though that is always nice. But to use and enjoy, confident that;

1 - The quality and user experience is great.

2 - The kit is reliable (no failures to date, touch wood).

3 - I could get most/all of my investment back if I really wanted to move on. I really can't see this for the foreseeable future.

Ref S lenses. I have 3 16-50mm (two like new) and though I don't use them as walk-about lenses, they are great for special occasions, especially indoors.

Veducci wrote:

The latest Samsungs still are quite capable but the system has been dead for years now. . If you own it already or have a chance to buy into it really cheap, then it could be worth while . But to invest much money into a dead system is a fools folly.

It depends. If the system already has all the lenses you require and you are happy with the quality and performance knowing no improvements are in the pipeline. Then I think people can invest with their 'eyes wide open'. I have invested more than £7,000 over 10 years in NX gear, nearly all of it since Samsung pulled out. This investments does include multiple copies as back-up knowing repairs to be nearly impossible.

I may live to regret this choice, but so far I'm loving it. So much so that I bought over £1,000 worth of gear in the last 2-3 weeks.

Still, I appreciate why others may be nervous, especially if they've had bad experience with some of their kit.

If you already own a NX500 or a NX1, with a couple of prime,s like the nx45mm 16mm 30mm and the 85mm. With the two S lenses, you can still produce professional photos.

If you want something better it starts with something  like FF  Sony a7iii. Or the Canon RP.  Don't know the Nikon cameras... sorry.

Looking at crop cameras the Fuji XT-4 has become one of the best on market.   The Canon M6ii is a another possibility.

DSLR sure the Canon 5Diii is still a serious pro camera

Okay fast forward.. if I lost all my gear.. I would start over with a used NX500 and the NX45mm.  And a 16mm for landscape.

Sure the NX system is dead. But for a 1000$ buying used with a couple of cheep Godox speedlights I would be back in business.. Portrait and landscape...   if I would change too another system after saving up some money. I can't say... maybe..

Too be fair .. I like the NX system. Because  its has probably one of the best and easiest menu systems  you can get in a camera.  And the ergonomic on the NX1 is perfect.

Well I don't go around comparing my camera with others...

For me it's a tool that is capable of making money..  and I won't be changing system anytime soon.

And to the guy who has trouble with his focus... either the camera or lens is broken, or you don't know how too handle a camera 😉

I just received a NX1 that is practically brand new, probably less than 2k shutter count... I love it.

A few years back I had a huge pile of NX gear... a few 300 bodies and a 500 and a bunch of lenses (the rokinon 12mm f2 was my favorite) ... anyway, I wanted an upgrade and bought a Canon 6Dii and a few lenses and after a while felt comfortable selling most of my Samsung gear off. Fast forward a couple of years and I never really fell in love with the Canon, ended up selling the 6dii and still had a little mirrorless M5 that I used with a new rokinon 12mm lens and adapter for all my other Canon lenses... don't love that camera either and the battery life is basically non-existent, I have to carry lots of batteries.

Anyway, I bought this NX1 for my boss when it came out, and she never used it, it has a 16-50S lens and battery grip. She gave it to me last week and now all I want to do it go and shoot pics, this camera is so great... love the quality with the zoom, and I don't have to swap out primes all the time... user interface is great, image quality is great, battery life and ergonomics are great... I couldn't be happier, I can't believe how good this still is for it's age. I still have a NX300 somewhere and a 50-200 and a couple small non-S lenses, I need to dig them out and see how they do on this body. ... anyway, that's a long winded way of saying I love this camera, even in 7 years later.